Fruits and vegetables include phytochemical elements that have been shown to benefit human health. Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins A, C, E, and K and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. They are also high in dietary fiber and have antioxidant qualities. It is impossible to obtain all of these nutrients from a single fruit or vegetable. Therefore, you must include various fruits and vegetables in the diet.
But, what happens if you don’t eat vegetables?
You may gain weight
Since most vegetables are cooked or steamed without adding any significant fat or oil to them, they’re generally very low in calories. As a result, vegetables are an excellent source of fiber and can fill you up much faster than other foods because they are so dense in nutrients. Fiber helps you feel satisfied and full long after your meal or snack has ended.
The nutrients in vegetables may also reduce the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cancer, to name a few benefits. People who don’t eat many vegetables tend to replace them with higher-calorie foods, like pasta or extra meat, which are not as filling for the same volume, making it easier to take in a lot more calories.
You will be prone to heart diseases and diabetes
A diet high in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and its consequences. For example, individuals who consume more than five servings of fruits and vegetables per day are expected to have a 20% lower risk of heart disease than those who consume less than three servings per day.
Fruits and vegetables help manage blood pressure and blood glucose levels and improve the lipid profile. In addition, fruits and vegetables protect the heart through modulating enzyme activity, regulating gene expression, and signalling pathways linked to cardiovascular disease.
You may experience stomach issues.
Fiber is an essential part of a balanced and healthy diet. Without fiber in your diet, the bulk may fill up in people with slow bowel habits, making passage difficult or uncomfortable. Lack of fiber can also cause constipation because certain types of fiber are heavily relied upon to maintain regularity.
Vegetables are among the biggest fiber sources in your diet, so if you don’t eat enough or eat enough, you may struggle to fulfil your fiber needs, ranging from 25 to 38 grams depending on whether you’re a male or a woman.
You may suffer from nutrient deficiency
Eating a variety of vegetables can help you get the nutrients your body needs, and this is why it’s important not just to have them on occasion but regularly. Vegetables and fruits contain many vitamins and minerals that do a lot more than just improve skin health. They also play a large role in increasing your dietary fiber intake, important for good dental health – healthy teeth and gums.
The composition of vegetables provides food that imparts beauty from the outside, but it also imparts beauty from the inside.
Vitamin insufficiency can lead to a variety of disorders, including:
- A lack of vitamin C causes scurvy.
- A lack of vitamin A causes night blindness.
- Hemorrhagic illness, often known as a bleeding disorder, is caused by a lack of vitamin K.
- Anemia, osteoporosis, and goiter are disorders induced by a mineral deficit (iron, calcium, and iodine, respectively).
How many vegetables should you be eating per day?
Regardless of their age and sex, the federal guidelines recommend at least 1½ cups per day to 2 servings of fruit. Furthermore, adults should consume 3 cups of vegetables each week for a healthy eating pattern.
But how do you measure vegetables?
A serving of most vegetables is the quantity that will fill a one-cup measuring cup. However, one cup of raw leafy greens (such as spinach and lettuce) counts as one serving, and eight ounces of vegetable or tomato juice also counts as one cup. For those who are not as savvy with measuring measurements, 16 tablespoons equal 1 cup.
A natural way to get veggies and their nutrients is by incorporating them in your daily meal plan. However, as a specification of HealthCanal, you may also get additional vitamins and minerals from natural supplements.
Conclusion
As a way to avoid the negative consequences of not eating veggies, why don’t you be open-minded about trying new ways? For example, you could enjoy smoothies and juicing. Plus there’s plenty more where that came from when adding fruit in for flavor or hiding them among other ingredients like sauces, raviolis, and frittata. The whole plant world is waiting for you. There are so many vegetables to try, and they all have their own unique flavors, textures, nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Get in touch with your inner chef today.